So I'm looking at a '71, but the dash has a huge crack in it. But the good news is, the owner is throwing in an uncracked dash. Problem is the car has red interior, the new dash is tan. Is there a way to dye these old things to match the interior color?

Also the car has been in a dry climate-controlled storage facility for 10 years. It's basically mint, but the car won't start. I brought a new battery over, and it turns over easy as pie, but it will never fire up. Before doing so, I dumped some new gas in the tank along with 1/2 can of Barrymans. I also undid all the sparkplugs and spayed in some Slick-fifty to loosen things up. Then I had the owner spray some ether on the carb. I cranked it, but no go. What could be the deal? I think it's getting a spark, but I'll check. Other than that, what could it be?

I know my old '90 with the 307 was disabled for a couple days because it wouldn't start. Then I was able to get it running by having someone hold that butterfly-looking-thing on the carb open with a toothbrush. Never had another glitch! I haven't tried that, for fear of backfire with the ether on the carb. But we'll see I guess.

Wish me luck!

jayoldschool

11-05-08, 07:07 PM

For starting, try pouring some fresh gas right down the carb, then cranking. It should start right up. About a 1/4 cup.

For the dash, you need SEM dye. It works very well when the surface is prepped properly.

http://www.msitrt.com/_borders/SEMchart.png

EMB1230

11-05-08, 07:38 PM

I know my old '90 with the 307 was disabled for a couple days because it wouldn't start. Then I was able to get it running by having someone hold that butterfly-looking-thing on the carb open with a toothbrush.

LOL, you mean the Choke?

I~LUV~Caddys8792

11-05-08, 07:51 PM

Are we talking about a '71 Eldorado or a '71 DeVille/Fleetwood/Calais?

My_favorite_Brougham

11-05-08, 10:35 PM

Are we talking about a '71 Eldorado or a '71 DeVille/Fleetwood/Calais?

Well I was trying to be nondescript, since this is the RWD forum. It's a '71 Eldorado vert. But I still think the best people knowledgeable about this stuff hang out here. :cool:

......and yeah, the choke.. duh! :bonkers:

And Jay, you're a big help! Thanks for that listing and everything; SEM sounds like the way to go.

deVille33

11-09-08, 09:58 AM

' 71 still used a point distributor. Sometimes with the car sitting for a long time the points will become slightly oxidized if held open while sitting. Sometimes you can clear this off running a dollar bill through the closed point set.

My_favorite_Brougham

11-11-08, 04:34 PM

Does anyone know if in '71 Cadillacs used leaded or unleaded gas?

I~LUV~Caddys8792

11-11-08, 04:50 PM

Leaded I believe. If I'm not mistaken, '72 was the first year for unleaded.

My_favorite_Brougham

11-11-08, 05:06 PM

Thanks!

jayoldschool

11-11-08, 08:25 PM

Leaded I believe. If I'm not mistaken, '72 was the first year for unleaded.

Nope, GM went no-lead compatible company wide for 1971. All vehicles got hardened valve seats, and lower compression. Filler necks were still wide so you could use leaded or no-lead, however.

My_favorite_Brougham

11-12-08, 02:55 PM

Oh, that's good news. Thanks Jay! I just realized the owner's manual said so too.

Also, I know the car at hand is not a rear-wheel-drive, but the concerns I'm bringing up are relevant to any model of this vintage. My concern is, I've driven this car for a couple days and put about 250mi. on it. Today, the "BRAKES" light came on the dash. It's strange, because the brakes seemed perfect when I first looked at the car, and they were nice, even, smooth, and have good stopping power - like new. But since the indicator light came on, it takes more pressure to push the pedal down; she's still stops nicely however, just less-assisted it seems. I checked vacuum lines to the brake booster to see if I lost my power brakes, but it's still good. (It gets harder to push after half-way depressed, after all.) Then I looked under the car for any brake fluid leaks, and didn't see any. I didn't check all the lines/calipers, though. And the pedal isn't spongy, so I don't think it's the master cylinder. What could it be? :confused:

Greg

I~LUV~Caddys8792

11-12-08, 03:21 PM

Sticky brake fluid level sensor? Perhaps the level in the master cylinder is right at the line that will trigger the light to come on?

How's that big 8.2L feel? :cool2: :sneaky:

My_favorite_Brougham

11-12-08, 03:42 PM

Ah.. the 8.2L. :cool: Ya know, I'm going to have to used the the power coming from up front, and not behind. But I guess that's okay. She's really powerful, especially on the highway. There ain't nothing I can't pass! However, I would have expected more power from a dead stop. She's just not as peppy as other cars. That's what I really liked about my '91 Coupe Deville 4.9L. The 8.2 seems a whole lot faster on the highway, but still slower from a stop. She's got about the same, maybe a little more, power as the 5.0 Chevy motors (in a 91/92 Brougham) from a standstill.

And I'll check that brake fluid!

I~LUV~Caddys8792

11-12-08, 04:22 PM

You know it's funny, I've always felt the same way. For a 500cid engine, especially a high compression one, it should blast through first gear and leave the tires a molten mess, but they never did anything like that. I've always heard that they weren't that quick out of the hole, but once up and moving they're pretty dang quick. So it's faster than a 4.9L deVille at highway speeds huh???? Interesting...!

When I drove that '73 Coupe deVille with the 472, it had no problem at all spinning the tires from a stop, but it wasn't "fast", but once up and moving, it seemed pretty quick...had no problem passing anything.

My_favorite_Brougham

11-12-08, 06:18 PM

So it's faster than a 4.9L deVille at highway speeds huh???? Interesting...!

I'll say! The 4.9L was fast, and pretty darn fast. But when I have the 500 above 50mph, it's hard to keep it under 90mph! :eek:

jayoldschool

11-12-08, 07:12 PM

There are only two things that make the BRAKE light come on:
- parking brake not disengaging
- leak in a line causing a pressure differential from front to rear

Get under that car... I think you popped a line.

My_favorite_Brougham

11-12-08, 10:47 PM

Well I went under the car, and all the brake lines look intact with no leaks. They're not even cracked. I did open up the reservoir, and the the rear chamber was nearly dry. The front was fine. So I filled the rear with some new fluid, and everything is back to normal, easier stopping and no "BRAKES" light anymore. I wonder where that brake fluid went? I hadn't checked the fluid before now, so I don't know if it was low and finally got below the line, or if it was a sudden loss.

I~LUV~Caddys8792

11-13-08, 10:25 AM

We need some pictures!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

My_favorite_Brougham

11-13-08, 11:33 AM

I'll see if I can't snap some, but the weather has been wet and muggy lately. But hey, this is RWD forum right? ;)

jayoldschool

11-13-08, 07:28 PM

Well I went under the car, and all the brake lines look intact with no leaks. They're not even cracked. I did open up the reservoir, and the the rear chamber was nearly dry. The front was fine. So I filled the rear with some new fluid, and everything is back to normal, easier stopping and no "BRAKES" light anymore. I wonder where that brake fluid went? I hadn't checked the fluid before now, so I don't know if it was low and finally got below the line, or if it was a sudden loss.

If it isn't a leak, then the only thing that could make the rear chamber low in the master (enough to trip the sensor in the proportioning valve) is extremely worn rear shoes/drums. Take off the rear wheels, pull the drums, and check everything out. If they look ok, I'll stick to my leak diagnosis.

It's good you got the light to go out. They can be a bitch once they come on.

I~LUV~Caddys8792

11-13-08, 07:32 PM

Hey, can you make a video of a WOT run on the highway?? I'd LOVE to see that speedometer rocket up from 50-90mph....with that looooooong hood in the backround.

My_favorite_Brougham

11-13-08, 10:34 PM

Well here's the deal, my speedometer is acting kinda funny. It's about 15-20mph behind what my actual speed is. Why is that? I thought a speedometer either worked or it didn't, as I've had the cables break and the needle simply falls flat. So if I were to do a full WOT, then the speedometer wouldn't show it.

However the car does go pretty fast... fast! Especially past ~20mph. I was cruising on the highway, and before I knew it the needle said 90! :eek: So that must've been faster. I didn't even notice it; no loud revving, no vibration, just smooth sailing. :cool2:

When I get that speedometer fixed, I can do a video, but I really don't want a speeding ticket! :eek:

My_favorite_Brougham

11-24-08, 07:20 PM

Maybe this is old news, but I did buy her. I know she's not RWD, but she's got the 500. I've named her Charlotte.

^ Nice yacht, the 71-74 Eldorado, especially white on porno red leather, is one of my all time favorite Cadillacs.

EMB1230

11-25-08, 02:33 AM

Wow, NO hump, it look so weird! I also love the dual interior door handles on that pass. side door.

brougham_geezer

11-25-08, 09:13 AM

She's beautiful man, so congrats! Great purchase. That's a totally fun summer cruiser. You'll turn a lot of heads with the top down, on the highway and in town.

Let's see some close-up pics of the "8.2 Litre" badges! :)

My_favorite_Brougham

11-25-08, 05:56 PM

Oh yeah, this Cad gets wayyy more comments than any other of my others. I'm driving her daily since I wont have a chance to enjoy her with the top down during winter. I get several comments every day! I'm always hearing, "you want to sell it?" and "how much you want for it?" or just "what year is she?" I even had a guy roll down his window on the highway (going about 60) and shout out "I'll buy it off you right now."

She's pretty boaty; makes my '83 Olds station wagon feel small. And she's definitely a lot boatier than any of my Broughams. No hump is nice because you can easily have a 3rd passenger up front. But without a hump and a large rubber mat, all the junk on the floor will slide under your feet. And I can't figure out where to but a cupholder. :confused:

Great looking Caddy! That hood looks 6 feet long! Do you know how much it weighs? With an engine that big,i`m thinking at least 5000 lbs.
I love those giant Caddy`s from the past.

My_favorite_Brougham

11-26-08, 12:58 AM

I think it's 5,100 lbs. The sticker is gone from the door jam, so I can't confirm. Other sources say it's in the 4,600 lbs. range. I do know the convertibles weighted more than the coupes, due to added weight that lowers the center of gravity.

I~LUV~Caddys8792

11-26-08, 11:06 AM

I think they were about 4700 lbs, maybe 4800 for the Convertible.

So it's a lot boatier than the Broughams eh? I always wondered...

My_favorite_Brougham

11-27-08, 11:08 PM

No hump, long uninterrupted bench seat, and a terrible turning radius make for a very boaty sensation. That and the hood is enormously long. ;)

deVille33

11-28-08, 10:11 PM

Congrats, Great Find.

Fleet

12-13-08, 10:56 PM

Ah.. the 8.2L. :cool: Ya know, I'm going to have to used the the power coming from up front, and not behind. But I guess that's okay. She's really powerful, especially on the highway. There ain't nothing I can't pass! However, I would have expected more power from a dead stop. She's just not as peppy as other cars. That's what I really liked about my '91 Coupe Deville 4.9L. The 8.2 seems a whole lot faster on the highway, but still slower from a stop. She's got about the same, maybe a little more, power as the 5.0 Chevy motors (in a 91/92 Brougham) from a standstill.

And I'll check that brake fluid!
The 8.5:1 compression ratio and 3.07:1 axle ratio kind of hurt coming-off-the-line power. The '70 Eldo (10.0:1 compression ratio and rated at 400 gross horsepower) probably came off the line good. That year Eldo ran low-16s in the 1/4 mile and high-8s for 0-60 mph.